UK SHOOTING STAR Edward Hogg in Emmerich film

Edward Hogg plays a lead in Emmerich's new film Anonymous

Edward Hogg, UK SHOOTING STAR 2010, is playing a lead in Roland Emmerich's film Anonymous. The young British actor is the first name on the cast list to be announced by the producers Studio Babelsberg (Germany), main partner of SHOOTING STARS, and Anonymous Pictures Limited (UK) exclusively. Principal photography on the Shakespeare film begins this March on the lot of Studio Babelsberg. It is 20 years since Emmerich last shot a film in Germany.

Edward Hogg was selected in November 2009 by an independent jury as the UK SHOOTING STAR 2010. Together with nine other young European stars, he will be presented to international professionals at the Berlinale from 13-15 February and honoured at a glamorous award ceremony in the Berlinale Palast by festival director Dieter Kosslick. European Film Promotion's (EFP) platform for promoting Europe's new acting talent has also received financial support from the MEDIA Programme of the EU in its 13th year.

"Edward Hogg has developed in recent years into a first-rate actor – an outstanding talent of great promise," notes SHOOTING STARS jury member Leo Davis. She is a founding member of the International Casting Directors Network (ICDN) initiated by EFP and cast for Emmerich along with ICDN member Simone Bär (Germany). Davis has cast such films as The Queen and The Constant Gardener. "During the selection for SHOOTING STARS I had Edward high up on my list!“ says Leo Davis. "He was then perfect for the role of Robert Cecil in Anonymous.“ As Robert Cecil, 1. Earl of Salisbury (1505 – 1576) Edward Hogg is a leading and influential minister serving Queen Elisabeth I. in this story about the true author of Shakespeare's plays.

The basic idea of EFP's SHOOTING STARS programme to support young European actors in their international work and bring them into contact with important decision-makers from the film industry also functions on another level. Studio Babelsberg are the main partner of SHOOTING STARS and are donating the ten SHOOTING STARS AWARDS, the 'Maria', and has now one of the participants in a production of its own. As a co-organiser of a producers' lunch (see below), Babelsberg assume a role as a mediator between the actors and the film industry.

SHOOTING STARS 2010 are: Dragoş Bucur (Romania, Police, Adjective) Agata Buzek (Poland, Reverse), Anders Baasmo Christiansen (Norway, North, A Somewhat Gentle Man), Zrinka Cvitešić (Croatia, On the Path), Anaïs Demoustier (France, Be Good), Kryštof Hádek (Czech Republic, 3 Seasons in Hell), Edward Hogg (United Kingdom, White Lightnin', Bunny and The Bull), Michele Riondino (Italy, Ten Winters), Lotte Verbeek (The Netherlands, Nothing Personal), Pihla Viitala (Finland, Bad Family).

Co-Partner TESiRO presenting Super Nova to SHOOTING STARS

TESiRO – one of world's leading diamond traders and a co-partner of the Berlinale 2010 – is a co-partner of SHOOTING STARS for the second year. During a dinner which European Film Promotion will be organising on Monday, 15 February in honour of the ten European acting talents and for key representatives of the film industry; TESiRO will present the SHOOTING STARS with a unique gift which was specially designed for the young actors. The diamond-studded jewellery Super Nova is taken from the new collection and has been conceived as a memory of a glamourous weekend in the spotlight.

Studio Babelsberg mediator between actors and film industry at Producers' Lunch

Supporting talented up-and-coming European actors in their international careers and helping them to develop a network across borders are among the goals of the SHOOTING STARS initiative. This is the first time that EFP has won the film producer Studio Babelsberg and the expert for film financing, Commerzbank, as the backers for a Producers' Lunch. Commerzbank has been a financial partner of EFP since the beginning of this year. On Monday, 15 February, the ten SHOOTING STARS 2010 will have an opportunity to meet and talk with leading international producers and directors in a relaxed atmosphere at the “Producers' Lunch – initiated by Studio Babelsberg and Commerzbank”. Studio Babelsberg is the main partner of SHOOTING STARS 2010.

more information on >> www.shooting-stars.eu.

Contact Premier PR:
Lizzy Follows lizzy.follows@premierpr.com		+44 20- 7292 8330
Becky Palmer becky.palmer@premierpr.com		+44 20- 7292 8330

Contact EFP:
Karin Dix (Project Director) dix@efp-online.com		+49 40- 390 6252
Mareen Gerisch (Head of Press) gerisch@efp-online.com		+49 40- 390 6252

The SHOOTING STARS project is supported by the MEDIA Programme of the European Union and the participating EFP member organisations. Main Partner is Studio Babelsberg. Co-Partner is TESiRO. The event moreover is supported by arvato digital services, Filmstiftung NRW GmbH, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and BMW AG. In addition, promotion and PR activities are backed by the Centre National de la Cinématographie et de l'image animée (CNCIA). The Hamburg-based office is supported by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) and the Department for Culture, Sports and Media of the City of Hamburg. Financial Partner is Commerzbank.

with the support of the MEDIA Programme
of the European Union

SHOOTING STARS Main Partner

Co-Partner

EFP is supported by

Financial partner